“That sending-off gave us impetus and the chance to throw the kitchen sink at them, which we did. Celebrating should be allowed, but we know the rules,” DAVID MOYES was grateful for his team’s late rally.

'This law is stupid and we must change it - this is an emotional game. I celebrated when I scored in a staff game on Thursday. Lucky I didn't get a red card, too.' AVRAM GRANT makes his point about Piquionne’s red card.

LIKE a torn up old case ball which has been volleyed against too many curbs, Everton’s season is deflating rapidly.

Are there enough tears to genuinely fear going down? No chance, but just where David Moyes’s team are going in the grand scheme of things is a question that increasingly feels like the elephant in the room.

Nobody wants to dwell on it, because the majority of answers are too demoralising.

Yes they rescued a point against West Ham courtesy of Marouane Fellaini’s injury time turn and shot, but they were fortunate to avoid defeat by a side rock bottom of the Premier League.

Goodison Park, like so many other times this season apart from those vintage days against Spurs and Liverpool apart, was flat.

But who can blame the supporters? Transfer windows turn the focus intently on a club’s means to progress, and so far the conclusion for Everton is gloomy.

There are no easy answers, and too many easy scapegoats, but this half way point in the season should prompt deep contemplation in the club.

The Blues are treading water in 13th place, they continue to fail to take three points from sides at home that should be the foundation of a successful season, and they have lost one of their more talented players in Steven Pienaar.

Elsewhere, rivals like Stoke, Aston Villa and Sunderland are able to make the necessary additions to pursue their ambitions.

To compound matters, golden playmaker Mikel Arteta is struggling through a patch of form which is sapping his and the team’s confidence.

While it’s positive that bright young things Seamus Coleman and Victor Anichebe have signed new deals, they are existing assets at a club crying out for new ones.

Wallowing in self pity, though, is not an option. There is the little prospect of a potentially epic FA Cup fourth round tie against Chelsea next weekend which could yet get things crackling again.

The team’s brittle confidence at Goodison Park needs to be addressed though, failing to score early still causes the Blues to doubt themselves and the crowd to become nervy.

That elusive additional centre forward would help massively too. Everton created the first clear-cut opportunity of the game against Avram Grant’s side, and with Louis Saha on the bench still nursing a thigh injury, it fell to Jermaine Beckford, a player still adapting to the top flight, and he took one touch too many before being denied by a heroic block from Hammers defender James Tompkins.

Everton had actually started the afternoon positively, committing plenty of men forward and playing with confidence and adventure.

Unfortunately, West Ham had looked dangerous on the counter attack despite not having much of the ball, and with almost half an hour gone they took advantage of Everton’s inability to take the lead.

John Heitinga got caught out of position trying to make a tackle in midfield, and Mark Noble switched the ball to Luis Boa Morte who drifted inside Phil Neville, and crossed for Jonathan Spector to score.

Galled by the setback, Everton’s passing deteriorated and as the early fizz started to seep away they were lucky not to be two down. Spector crossed, Heitinga slipped and Frederic Picquionne flashed a majestic header against the post.

Their passing was not the only casualty as the game approached half time; the Blues defending was oddly woeful.

Saha replaced Beckford for the second half, but the Blues hardly improved. As the malaise continued, Moyes replaced Anichebe with Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, and asked Fellaini to support Louis Saha.

Suddenly there was a cutting edge up front, and if a target man cannot be found in this transfer window the Blues manager may have to reluctantly consider pushing the Belgian into attack more often.

In Pienaar’s absence, Bily did his claim to fill the South African’s boots no harm. His initial touches helped the Blues keep possession in key areas, and he was to offer more than that.

Everton began to press as West Ham sat deep, and when Phil Neville’s deep cross was cleared meekly by Piquionne, the Russian lashed a wonderful right-footed volley past Robert Green.

Buoyed by the turnaround, and with ten minutes left Everton went close again when Saha’s shot was blocked by Green, and Seamus Coleman’s first-time effort flew over the bar.

But just as they should have been seizing the momentum, anther set-back ensued. The Londoners countered, Wayne Bridge was given too much space to cross and Piquionne leapt highest to score with a header, then get his second yellow card for celebrating by jumping into the crowd.

Saha responded by narrowly missing with a low drive from the edge of the area, then Fellaini prevented Goodison going into melt-down with his well taken leveller.

The league table remains the biggest cause for optimism. Salvation of sorts is only ever two or three victories in a row away.

But for a team which has only won five games all season, hope is not in abundance.

Phil Jagielka will be back to settle the backline soon, and Tim Cahill’s return from Qatar cannot come quickly enough.

A galvanising fresh face in the Landon Donovan mould is the number one priority though.

EVERTON (4-4-2): Howard, Neville (capt) (Rodwell, 84), Distin, Heitinga, Baines, Fellaini, Arteta, Coleman, Oman, Anichebe (Bilyaletdinov, 68), Beckford (Saha, 45). Not used: Mucha, Jagielka, Gueye, Hibbert.

WEST HAM (4-4-2): Green, Faubert, Upson (capt), Tomkins, Bridge, Boa Morte, Parker, Noble, Spector, Hines (Sears, 81), Piquionne. Not used: Boffin, Reid, Gabbidon, McCarthy, Barrera, Noble.

GOALS: Spector (27), Bilyaletdinov (76), Piquionne (85), Fellain (92).

CARDS: Booked – Fellaini, Parker, Piquionne (2). Sent off – Piquionne.

REFEREE: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

ATTENDANCE: 34,179.